Paper web supporting and feeding means for recording machines



MON' 3U, W5@ NN. J. HIGGINS 5TM. EI@

PAPER NEB SUPPORTING ANO FEEOINO nmNs NOR RECORDING MACHINES Filed Aug.2e. 1947 INVENTORS= WILLIAM J. HIGGINS 25 ND CHARLES BRADT TTORNEY vPatented May y30, 1950 PAPER WEB SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MEANS FORRECORDING MACHINES William J. Higgins and Charles H. Bradt, Groton, N.Y., assignors to L. C. Smith & Corona Typewriters, Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation ofV New York Application August 26, 1947, Serial No.770,698

6 Claims. l

The general object of the invention is to pro vide a simple, inexpensiveand emcient paper web supporting and feeding means for recordingmachines, such as recording calculating machines, whereby a recordreceiving paper web or tape may be unwound from a supply spool, fed

across the printing line of the machine and rewound on a rewind spool asan incident to actuation of the machine.

Further objects of the invention are to provide improved means formounting the web supply and rewlnding spools in the machine for quickand easy insertion and removal of said spools and for driving of therewind spool by the supply spool. for controlling the unwinding andrewinding of the paper web, so mounting the spools that they may bereadily removed but are nevertheless securely held against accidentaldemounting of the spools during handling or transportation of themachine, and for supporting the paper web printed face uppermost at alocation between the printing line of the machine and the rewind spoolto permit an operator to write upon the paper web.

Other objects and advantages of the invention y will appear from thefollowing description in detail of the preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a recording machine equippedwith a paper web supporting and feeding means embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2--2of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3of Figure 1.

The improvements are shown incorporated in a known recording calculatingmachine, only so much of which is shown and will be described as isnecessary for an understanding of the present invention.

Said machine has a main frame I0, a roller platen li, having a shaft I2journaled in a platen supporting frame i3 which is mounted in the rearpart of the main frame I0, a nger wheel I4 which is ilxed on one end ofthe platen shaft for use to manually rotate the-platen. and a ratchetwheel i5 which is iixed to the platen at one end of the platen and isactuative by suitable means (not shown) to rotate the platen to linespace the record receiving paper web automatically after cach line ofmatter is printed upon actuation oi the machine to print upon the web.

. 2 The platen Il extends horizontally across the machine adjacent therear end of the machine frame IU to back the paper web to receive inkedtype impressions along a printing line which extends horizontally alongthe platen at the front of the platen substantially midway between thehighest and lowest parts of the periphery of the platen. The recordingmeans (not shown) 0f the machine are adapted to automatically print aline of matter on the paper at said printing line upon each printingactuation of the machine.

Said machine also has suitable means coactlve with the platen forfeeding the paper web, said means including a paper guiding table IE#which is mounted in the platen supporting frame i3 under the platen, apaper feed roller I1 Journaled in said table. a paper feed roll I8journaled in a suitable support I9 which is mounted on the platensupporting frame above the platen, 'and a paper guiding table 20 mountedon the platen supporting frame above and to the rear of theV platen.

The improvements will now be described.

At the rear of the machine, a sheet steel or othel` metal bracket,having parallel side plates 2l and 22 and an integral front crossbar 23,is detachably fixed to the rear end 0f the machine frame Ill by screws24 which fasten the crossbar 23 to the frame with the crossbar extendinghorizontally transversely of the machine and with the side plates 2| and22 extending rearwardly from the platen and machine frame.

The rolled supply of paper 25 to be printed upon by the machine isrolled upon the usual cylin drical wooden supply spool 26, such spooland rolled supply of paper thereon being a trade item supplied as a unitfor use in machines of the kind set forth. For journaling the spool withits rolled supply of paper; there is provided in the improved machine asupply spool journaling spindle 21 which is of cylindrical cross sectionand formed of metal, such as steel. The spindle has a reduced and screwthreaded end portion 2ln threaded through a screw threaded aperture inbracket side plate 2l.4 The main body portion of the spindle has a loosefit in the bore of the supply spool 26 and in a circular hole in bracketside -plate 22. Spindle 26 extends horizontally transversely of themachine and has a knurled end portion 21b which is located at the outerside of plate 22 at the right hand side of the machine for readyattachment of the spindle to and detachment thereoffrom the bracket tomount and demount a supply spool. Portion 21e of the spindle is threadedwith a right hand screw thread so that unwmdmg rotation of spool z swill not unscrew the spindle. The spindle is disposed parallel to theaxis of the platen roll and is located at the lower rear part of thebracket below the level of the platen roll and farther to the rear ofthe machine than the platen roll. The' supply spool 28 extendssubstantially from eachv to the other of plates 2| and 22.

A brake or tension device 28 is provided in association with the supplyspool supporting spindle to engage the periphery of the rolled papersupply on the supply spool along a horizontal line located forward ofand below the spindle. The brake 28 comprises a flat sheet steel orother metal plate having a forwardly and downwardly bent upper edgeportion 28* and a forwardly and downwardly turned lower edge portion281. A cylindrical paper-guiding steel or other metal shaft 28 extendshorizontally and transversely of the machine across the rear face of thebrake 28 a short distance below the bent upper edge of said brake. saidbrake being fastened to said shaft by screws 80 threaded into the shaft,and said shaft having reduced end portions journaled in bracket sideplates 2| and 22 adjacent the upper edges of said plates. 'I'he shaftand the upper edge of the brake are located behind and parallel to theplaten roll and slightly above and behind the paper table I8. A steel orother metal tie rod 3| extends between the bracket plates 2| and 22between the bracket crossbar 23 and the brake 28 and is secured to saidplates by screws 32. A pull spring 88 is anchored at its ends to the rod8l and the upper end portion 2|! of brake 28 to urge the lower endportion 28b of the brake against the rolled supply oi paper on thesupply spool.

The improved machine is also provided with means whereby the paper, asit is printed upon during actuation of the machine, is rewound upon arewind` spool for preservation as a permanent printed record and/or toprevent the inconvenience incident to discharge from the machine of along length of printed paper, which means now will be described.

Each of the bracket side plates 2| and 22 has an elongate vertical slot34 therein which ends downward from its upper edge partway to anddirectly above the Spindle 21. A heavily weighted rewind spool isprovided which has a heavy metal core 85, preferably formed of steei.and a cylindrical wooden sheath or sleeve 3@ tightly fitted on said coreagainst rotation relatively thereto. The sleeve portion of said spool isprovided throughout its length with a paper end :receiving slot 31 whichextends from the periphery of said sleeve to said core tangentially tothe periphery of the core. The core is formed with reduced portions 35nof round cross section forming trunnions slidably and rotatively ttingin slots 34 in plates 2| and I22. The main body portion of the spool85-38 extends substantially from each to the other of plates 2| and 22,and one of the trunnions 35a of the spool is formed with an integral andknurled knob or ilnger wheel 38 to facilitate handling of the spool andmanual rotation of the spool. Finger wheel 33 is located outside ofplate 22 at the same, or right hand, side of the machine as the knurledend 2lb of the spindle 21 for the supply spool 26. The rewind spool isthus free to turn and also to slide vertically in slots 34, and saidspool, or the spooi and printed paper wound thereon, is adapted to restby gravity on the supply spool or paper wound on the latter.

different one of said table legs.

A paper supporting table, formed of sheet steel .or other. metal andhaving a flat fop 88 and -a pair of legs 40 integral with said top, ispivotally mounted on the bracket side plates 2| and 22 by means of apair of shouldered pivot screws 4| each threaded into a different one ofsaid plates and extending through a bearing aperture in a Screws 4| arelocated forward of the slots 84 in the bracket plates, and preferablyabout mid-length of the slots, and support the table for swingingthereof about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the machineparallel to the axes of the platen roll and the supply and rewindspools. 'l'he shortest distance from the pivotal axis of ,the table tothe table top is sufficiently great to permit the table to be swung froma position in which its top is behind the bracket 2|-22-28 to its normalposition shown in full lines in Figure l and to a downwardly depressedposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

In the normal position of the table 38-40, the table legs extenddownwardly and rearwardly to the pivot screws 4|, and the table top 88faces upwardly and is located between the rewind spool and the table 20on the platen supporting frame I8 to support the paper 25 printed faceuppermost throughout the width of the paper and throughout a substantiallength of the paper to permit an operator to write upon the printedportion of the paper. In the construction shown, the table top 39measures about 1%" from front to rear. In the normal position of thetable, the front edge of the table top 39 is preferably 10.. cated closeto the rear edge of table 20. In the normal position of table 39-40, itstop. is located a substantial distance above the underlying upper edgeportions of bracket plates 2| and 22 to permit rocking of the table topdownward and forward into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure lfor withdrawal of rewind spool 35-38 from engagement with slots 34 witha full supply of paper from the supply spool rewound upon the rew-indspool.

The table 38-40 is supported and releasably latched in its normalposition by an upstanding latch lever 42 which is located at the lefthand side of the machine at the outer side of bracket plate 2|. Thelatch lever has a hub 42 intermediate lts ends which is journaled on astud 43 fixed to and projecting outward and horizontally from plate 2|.The hub spaces the body portion of the latch lever from the plate 2| toclear the left hand table leg 40, and a split retainer ring 44 isengaged with the stud 43 to hold the lever on the stud. A pull spring 45extends downward and forward from a stud 46 fixed to the lower arm ofthe latch lever and is anchored to a stud 4l secured to and extendinginward from the 'side plate 2| of bracket 2|-22-23. Stud 46 extendsthrough a clearance slot 48 in plate 2| and is engageable with the rearend edge of the slotl to limit release movement of the latch lever. Thespring 45 normally holds the upper arm of the latch level.` 42 rockedrearward against a stop stud 49 projecting outward from and fixed toplate 2|.

The latch lever 42 has, in its rear edge adjacent its upper end andabove stop stud 49, a forwardly extending notch 50 separating twodownwardly and rearwardly inclined rear cam edge portions 5| and 52 ofthe latch lever, which notch may, if desiredand as shown, lbe downwardlyand forwardly inclined. In the normal position of the latch lever, thenotch 50 is located in rear axis of the latch lever. The left hand oneoi' the table legs Il) has fixed thereto and extending horizontallyoutward therefrom a stud Il which, inthe normal position of the latchlever, is engaged in notch 50 to positively hold the table 38-40 againstdepression from the normal position of the latter. The upper arm of thelatch lever has fixed thereto and projecting outward therefrom astud-like finger piece 5I adapted to be grasped by an operative to rockthe latch lever to free stud 53 from notch 50.

The table #Q -4l also serves, in combination with its latching lever I2,to releasably hold or -latch the rewind spool against accidentaldetachment from the machine during handling or transportation of themachine while leaving said spool free to rotate and move up and downrelatively to the supply spool 2l during use o! the machine. For thispurpose each oi' the legs I of the table 38--40 is formed with anintegral rewind spool retaining arm SM5". The arms 5555a in the normalposition of the table extend across the respective slots 34 adjacent theopen upper ends of the slots to block movement of the rewind spooltrunnions 35* out of the slots. In the construction shown, each arm isshaped to hook-like form with a. main body or shank part 55 and anangularly extending terminal hook part 55". In the normal position ofthe table, parts 55 of the arms extend upward from the leg pivots 4l atthe outer faces of plates 2l and 22 with said parts 55 located forwardof slots 3| and with parts 55 extending rearward across the respec- Ytive slots 34 adj acent the open upper ends of the slots to blockmovement of the rewind spool trunnions 35a out of the slots. The stronglatch spring 45 holds the latch l2 in normal position against accidentalrelease with the latch engaged with the table 39-40 to hold the latteragainst accidental up and down movements from its normal position.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that by rotation of the platen inpaper line spacing direction (counterclockwise as the machine is viewedin Figure 1), ,a desired length oi' paper may be fed past the printingline-0f the platen and corresponding lengths of paper will berespectively unwound from the supply spool and wound on the rewindspool. For satisfactory driving of the rewind spool from the supplyspool, it is desirable that the rewind spool be fairly heavy and offairly large diameter. A fairly large diameter for the rewind spool isdesirable for effective torque to rotate this spool without slippage. Arewind spool of fairly heavy weight is desirable for non-slippingfrictional driving of the spool. It is, however, undesirable to imposetoo heavy a load upon the line spacing mechanism of the machine.Accordingly, a metal and wood rewind spool such as shown has beenprovided, and a spool with a steel core of diameter and a wood sheath of1% diameter has been found satisfactory and is shown.

After being printed upon, the paper is fed printed face uppermost overthe top of the writfall as required during reeling of the paper from ingtable 39-40 before being wound upon the re- The, slots Il aresufficiently long. preferably about 2", as shown. to extend well aboveand below the trunnions l!! of the rewind sD00l, when the spool is emptyand rests on a full supply spool, so that the supply spool is free torise and the supply spool onto the rewind spool. This arrangement alsopermits use of the rewind spool with supply rolls of tape oi.' differentdiameters.

The latch 42 'normally holds the writing table 39-40 against. both upand down movement from the normal position of the table shown in fulllines in Figure 1, said latch being held in latching position by thestil! spring l5. The engagement of stud 53 in latch notch 5I to the rearof the vertical plane in which lies the pivotal axis of the latchpermits very heavy downward pressure on the writing table withouttending to release the latch.

Tofacilitate initial threading of paper from the supply spool under theplaten and over the table I6 and feed roll i1, before attachment o! thepaper to the rewind spool and mounting of the latter in the machine, thewriting table I8-4l maybe unlatched and swung over rearwardly until itstop is behind the bracket n n-2l. When said table is swung back tonormal position, the stud 53 will engage and ride down the cam edge 5iof the latch 42 and force the latch toward release position until saidstud reaches notch 50, whereupon the spring 45 will snap the latch intolatching position and the latch will arrest and hold the table in normalposition.

To mount or demount the rewind spool, the operator rocks the latch 42 toreleased position and holds it there, whereupon the writing table Sit-40 drops by gravity into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,where it is arrested by engagement of stud 53 with the lower part of camedge 52 of the latch and by the engagement of stud 46 with the rear endedge of slot 48. In this position of the writing table, both the arms55--551 are entirely forward of slots 34 and an empty rewind spool maybe mounted in the machine or a full rewind spool may be demounted fromthe machine. The downward movement of table 39-40 from normal positioncarries the table top both forward and downward away from the rewindspool. Upon release of the depressed writing table, the spring 4-5restores the latch to normal position andthe cam edge 52 of the latchcams the table up into normal position, whereupon the stud 53 againbecomes engaged in latch notch 5|) to latch the table.

The brake 28 prevents overrunning or excess and accidental spinning ofthe supply roll of paper. If any undesirable slack should develop in thepap'er between the platen and rewind spool, it can be taken up bymanually rotating the rewind spool by knob 38.

It will be noted that simple, inexpensive and efficient means verycompactly arranged have been provided for the purposes desired to beaccomplished.

Although we have thus described our invention in the best form of whichwe are aware, it will be evident to those skilled in this art that manychanges and modifications might be made without departing from thespirit of our invention. We desire to be limited, therefore, only by thescope oi the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a recording machine of the class de- 'I5 scribed, the combinationwith a rotatively atodos-i mounted and' horizontally disposed platen andmeans associated therewith for feeding a recordreceiving paper web, of apair of xed supports behind and spaced longitudinally of the platen andeach having an up and down extending bearing slot therein which is openat its upper end, a web rewinding spool extending between said supportsand having xed trunnions at its ends slidably and rotatively fitted insaid bearing slots and withdrawable through said open ends oi the slots,means releasably engaged with said supports for journaling a web supplyspool for rotation between said supports about a fixed horizontal axiswhich is so located that the rewinding spool and paper reeled thereonwill be supported by the supply spool and paper reeled thereon and withthe axes of the spools parallel to the platen, a supporting table forthe web having a flat top and a pair of supporting legs, means mountingthe legs of said table on said supports for movement of the table from aposition in which the table top faces upwardly between the platen andrewinding spool to support the web and the table legs extend across saidbearing slots adjacent the open ends of the slots and block passage ofthe rewinding spool trunnions into and out of said slots to a positionin which the entire table is journaling a web supply spool for rotationabout e a nxed horizontal axis which is so located that the rewindingspool and paper reeled thereon will be supported by the supply spool andpaper reeled thereon and with the axes of the spools parallel to theplaten, a web supporting table having a dat top and a pair of legs,means pivotally supportlocated to one side of said slots out of the pathof insertion and removal of the rewinding spool,

and means for releasably holding the table in the mst-mentioned one ofsaid positions. Y

2. A recording machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means forreleasably holding the table in said mst-mentioned position comprises amanually releasably latch mounted on one of said supports and biased tolatch the adjacent leg of the table.

3. A recording machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the legs of thetable are pivoted to the supports for downward4 swinging of the tableabout an axis parallel to' that of the platen from the rst to the secondone of said positions, and the table legs have extensions at theopposite side oi' their pivotal axis from the table top for movementforwardly of the bearing slots when the table is swung to said secondposition. f

4. In a recording machine of the class described, the combination with arotatively mounted and horizontally disposed platen and means associatedtherewith for feeding a recordreceiving paper web, of a web rewindingspool having fixed trunnions at its ends, a pair of fixed.

up and down extending elongate bearings for ing the table legs forswinging of the table bodily about an axis parallel to the platen andforward of said bearings, a latch pivoted to swing about an axisparallel to the pivotal axis of the table and biased to a normallatching position, and a stud on one of the table legs, said latchhaving a notch in which said stud is engageable to support the tableagainst downward swinging movement from a normal position, and the legsof the table having extensions movable therewith from across the upperends of said bearings when the table is swung downward from latchedposition.

5. Arecording machine, as claimed in claim 4, having means to positivelylimit release movement of the latch, and a cam surface on said latchwhich extends downward from said latch notchv forengagement with thestud while the table is depressed to limit depression of the table andto cam the table up to normal position when the table is released ofdepressing force.

WILLIAM J. HIGGINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,825,783 Dunning et al. Oct. 6,1931 1,829,727 Barrett Nov. 3, 1931 2,059,871 Honeyman, Jr. Nov. 3, 1936

